Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-04-15

The career of William NJ. Clements,
who, as announced before, will leave the
of the Erie Express to be-
come manager OF the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad east Of the Ohio river, has been
one IN many respects, and he
is remarkable man in every
respect. Prior to the war he was freight
conductor on the Baltimore and Ohio, and
he first met John w. Garrett, then Presi
dent OF the road, near Wheeling, w. Va.
Three rear cars OF Conductor Clements
train were derailed one day near Wheel
ing, and Clements took the red sigual and
went back to flag an express which he
knew was following He sent the engineer
and fireman ahead to stop all trains COM
ing from that direction and to get assist
ance, huTTiedly calling out TO "A stupid
brakeman: Pull the train ahead about a
hundred yards The rear cars had com
menced TO burn from the broken stove in
the cabOOse, and Clements wanted To save
the valuable freight in the Others. The
brakeman climbed aboard the engine, but
was too stupid to open the throttle The
whole train was burned, causing loss OF
over S73, 900. When Clements returned to
the scene with some of the passengers from
the express, which he had stopped half u
mile away, he looked at the burning ears,
and, stepping up to the stupid brakeman,
tlOOred him with one powerful blow. \
stout, quiet-lOOking passenger walked up
to Clements and said: "Why did you de.
sert your train? IOu could have sent that
man back with the flag and saved these
cars yourself 1t seems to me you don't
know your business
Clements is a brOad-shouldered six
fOOter, and when he glared at his auda-
ciOus critic many people supposed there
would be another knOck-down. why,
you d fOOlm he replied cOntemptu u
Cusly, do you suppose | was going to
trust that man? | knew he was a fool,
like you, and that's the reason | let him
monkey with the cars while went to look
after human lives.
Conductor, do you know who l amp"
No; and don't care d."
II am John W. Garrett" well, l don't
care if you are If you value freight more
than human lives, L don't And / will
burn up a dozen trains before I'll let one of
your Cheap John brakeman kill few dOz
en people,
Clements stalked away and busted him
self directing the wrecking crew engaged
IN clearing the track Old man Garrett
looked quietly on without uttering another
word. The following week Clements was
made passenger conductor, whereas ev-
cry one supposed that he would he dis
charged He rose steadily until he be-
came master of transportation of the whole
road.
In this position he was noted all over
the country for his ability and independ-
enee and his absolute defiance of every
other mans ideas. His subordinates said
that he could get there quicker than
any other man, and that he WAS the only
chief of department in the Baltimore and
Ohio service who did not tremble when
Garrett came along. He was VIGOROUSLY
profans, and it is limited that he even
"cussed the old man on several occasions.
In 1880, Just about the time young Robert
Garrett commenced to be prominent in his
fathers road, Clements had serious fall
inv out with the elder Garrett, which made
things unpleasant for the next two years.
Finally, when General Manager Durham
was brought to Baltimore from the West
EN- division of the road and commenced
To interfere with Clements, an explosion
quickly followed. Clements had always
been a great stickler for promotion, and
was wonderfully popular on this account
with his subOTdinateS. When vacancy
occurred in an important Office in Glenn
ants department, he recommended the
next highest official, and Durham named
a friend from a Western branch of the road.
Dunham's man got the place, and Clements
went right in and told Robert Garrett, then
vice president and practical manager, that
he wouldn't allow Dunham's men to serve
under him.
But, Mr.. Clements, discipline must be
maintained" said Garrett. We'll, you
can keep discipline, hut you can't keep
me on these terms The Western man is
dude, and has neither railroad sense,
common sense, nor horse sense won
have him, - said Clements fatty. His pro-
family by this time was luCid and intri-
cate. Dunhsm insisted on his point. Mr..
Garrett upheld him, and Clements forth
with resigned. The knowledge that Glenn
euts had been making fight in their IN
terest made the employees Of the road idol
ize him. They gave HIM a magnificent
solid silver service, worth $500 and
il was soon admitted that Mr.. Garrett
had made a mistake. John King, Jr.,
of the Erie, who had left the Second Vice
Presidency Of the Baltimore & Ohio under
| prstty much the same circumstances,
| knew Clements abilities and brought him
10 New York on q big salary. The return
ofthe bluff railroad man TO the Baltimore
& Ohio in q higher capacity and at a
larger salary than formerly shows that
Dir. Garrett, whatever his motives in al
lowing his fathers old favorite to resign,
has never doubted Clements ability.